Monkey island in Vietnam is situated in the Halong Bay and is a popular tourist attraction. Almost all the tours that leave from Cat Ba island will list or encourage you to visit this island. Neither Shawn nor I were particularly interested in seeing any more monkeys after our episode in Indonesia. You can’t however change a tour schedule and we reluctantly joined the troop. I can’t say that we didn’t have fun for we did!
In fact, in retrospect I would highly recommend adding Monkey island to your itinerary. Why? For three reasons. Monkey island in Vietnam has two gorgeous beaches which you can chill at if you are not too adventurous. They are populated with monkeys. Duh! So you should keep your belongings close.
The second reason is the fun hike up the mountain in the center. It isn’t too hard to get up and when you do, you will see reason number 3 aka the incredible view of Lan Ha bay.
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Where Is Monkey Island In Vietnam?
Monkey island is part of the Cat Ba archipelago which houses almost 400 islands of different sizes. The island is rather pristine. I say rather because tourists tend to leave their trash here. I’m given to understand that locals clean up the area frequently.
The island got its name from the 20 odd monkeys that live on it. These primates are used to human activity and you will find that they do not shy away from human contact. In fact in most instances it is the tourists who are forced to run. Yours truly included!
How To Get To Monkey Island In Vietnam?
Monkey island in Vietnam can usually only be visited as a stop on one of the tours that leave either from Beo harbour or from one of the smaller islands. Our tour started off from Cat Ba island. The over night cruises also make a stop here but you would have to check the itinerary. Alternatively you could charter a boat but that would be pricey and I would not recommend it.
Monkey Island In Vietnam Was Our Last Stop
Our first glimpse at the Vietnamese monkeys on Monkey island in Vietnam.
Monkey island was the last island that we docked on during our Halong Bay tour. The shore is shallow and our boat could go only so far. Smaller boats arrived to ferry us to shore.
It seemed a little surreal to watch the monkey’s darting to and fro on the soft sand. I even saw a few chase an unsuspecting tourist. Thankfully that did not happen to be. I have a healthy aversion to monkeys after our incident in Monkey forest, Indonesia
Be forewarned: Monkey bites are plentiful as the monkeys are used to having their way. It is prudent to stay on your guard.
Let’s just have some evening booze
It was part sad and part funny to see the monkeys imitate human behavior. They pick out cans and bottles from the dumpsters and drink in hopes of finding a sip of the sweet drinks that once lay within. Some of the monkeys will even make threatening noises when they see you.
Others try to steal what you have in your hand. It is a routine that seems well worn into all South Asian countries where monkeys are the prime attraction. The primates on monkey island in Vietnam are no different.
Monkey Island In Vietnam Isn’t Just About The Monkeys
It is not as easy as it looks!
While tourists are inclined to believe that Monkey island is all about monkeys, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Monkey island has a short trek that takes you up to the peak of the island. This peak offers you one of the best views of the bay. Make sure that you have proper footwear if you want to attempt this trek. Flip flops make it extremely difficult!
The unexpected proposal
I’m not much of a climber because of my fear of heights so I stopped a few meters off from the top. Shawn made it up to the peak only to find a monkey perched strategically at the top. I think the monkey quite fancied my husband for she made a lunge at him. Luckily for me, he didn’t accept and made it back to me safe and sound.
Sunset On The Beach At Monkey Island, Vietnam
Adieus amigos!
Monkey island in Vietnam is also perfect for watching the sunset. With the end of the day closing in, we watched as the sun gave us her final adieu for the day.
Tours That Take You To Monkey Island
Most of the tours take you to Monkey island in Halong Bay. I’ve included some overnight cruises that you will probably find interesting.
2-Day Traditional Cruise to Lan Ha Bay & Cat Ba Island
⭐️ Rating: 4/5 (7 Reviews) Price: $202 per person Duration: 2 days Details: Read more on Get Your Guide Now!
Take a short 2 day cruise through Lan Ha Bay. I say short because this tour takes you through all the highlights in a short duration. You also get to visit Ca Ba island and Monkey island. Both of which are definitely worth stopping at.
“The Cruise was excellent, as well as the destination of Cat Ba and Lan Hay bay (much less crowded than Halong Bay but equally beautiful).”
Anonymous (read more reviews now!)
We actually stayed at Cat Ba island for 5 days so I really know what I’m talking about when I say that the island is worth a stop.
Oh and you get to visit the Twin beach and Ben Beo floating village. Let’s not forget about the epic adventure of kayaking through the lagoons and tunnels in the Hang Ca area.
Don’t worry about food and drinks either. You get your meals on board. You even can enjoy cocktails at the bar on three peaches island before heading back to your cruise ship.
6-day tour of Halong Bay – Sapa from Hanoi
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (1 Reviews) Price: $296 per person Duration: 6 days 📍Meeting Point: Hanoi Details: Read more on Viator Now!
This is an interesting 6 day tour. It covers a lot of sights in the north of Vietnam so if you are looking for someone to take care of your entire itinerary in the North, this may well be the tour for you. The tour covers three iconic places. The itinerary is as follows:
Day 1 – Halong Bay – You get to swim, kayak and catch the sights in the area.
Day 2 – Ti Top Beach and Sung Sot Cave
Day 3 – Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba, Monkey island
Day 4 – Sapa – Muong Hoa Valley – Hau Thao village
Day 5 – Giang Ta Chai – Ban Ho Village
Day 6 – Ban Ho – Su Pan – Sapa
As you can see, the tour allows plenty of time to explore and see the area. This is one of the reasons why I included it here.
MONKEY ISLAND IN A NUTSHELL (A 4 star review)
- Monkey island has two main attractions: the monkeys and the view point.
- Proper footwear will aid you in your climb to the top.
- Monkey bites are common so be on you guard and do not agitate them.
- Monkey island has two main attractions: the monkeys and the view point.
- Proper footwear will aid you in your climb to the top.
- Monkey bites are common so be on you guard and do not agitate them.
*This post contains Affiliate links
Sinjana Ghosh
Sunday 4th of August 2019
Wow this looks so much fun. Amazing photography. Monkey island looks like a perfect nature and adventure retrat.
Agness of a TukTuk
Friday 20th of January 2017
This looks like the very beginning of the Planet of Apes film :D
Penny
Sunday 22nd of January 2017
Lol! I never thought of that angle! Damn! That would have made such a nice title!
Abbi
Sunday 15th of January 2017
This looks like a real adventure - complete with little rascals you have to dodge along the way! Vietnam is on my list and I'll be sure to check Monkey Island out when I visit!
Katie @ The Katie Show Blog
Sunday 15th of January 2017
Wow looks like an interesting place to visit. I had not heard of it before so I am glad you shared it and thanks for the warning to be careful around the monkeys.
Flo @ Yoga, Wine & Travel
Sunday 15th of January 2017
The view from the viewpoint looks spectacular! Glad your husband made it back to you in one piece ;)